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Kid
From the author of the acclaimed Diavolino comes this chilling, short horror story set somewhere in England a few centuries ago. Born hideously deformed, Kid was never even given a name. When illness took away his hearing, his family shunned him completely and he retreated to the forest. Chanced upon by the local sheriff, Kid is forced to work as torturer and executioner. One evening he is visited by a stranger bearing a gift. All Kid has to do is choose...
12 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2011
1 person is currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Steve Emmett
12 books40 followersSteve studied at the Architectural Association in London where he witnessed Dame Zaha Hadid fall through a canvas chair (admittedly she was just plain Ms Hadid then). He spent most of his working life selling and restoring Italian country homes, so spent many years living in London and Italy.
Steve grew up on Hammer Horror films, Dennis Wheatley and M R James stories, so not surprising that his main genre is horror and dark matter. He reads his work and that of others on his YouTube Channel - Steve Emmett in Other Words.
He is a member of Humanists UK, writing and leading humanist funerals and wedding ceremonies on their behalf.
Steve grew up on Hammer Horror films, Dennis Wheatley and M R James stories, so not surprising that his main genre is horror and dark matter. He reads his work and that of others on his YouTube Channel - Steve Emmett in Other Words.
He is a member of Humanists UK, writing and leading humanist funerals and wedding ceremonies on their behalf.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 29, 2016
-Choque incruento de concepto y desarrollo.-
Género. Relato.
Lo que nos cuenta. Kid lleva viviendo en soledad casi desde que tiene uso de razón. Sordo, contrahecho y gargantuesco, ejerce su trabajo de torturador y verdugo con profesionalidad pero casi sin más opciones. Un extraño e inquietante personaje aparece en su aislada cabaña.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Relato.
Lo que nos cuenta. Kid lleva viviendo en soledad casi desde que tiene uso de razón. Sordo, contrahecho y gargantuesco, ejerce su trabajo de torturador y verdugo con profesionalidad pero casi sin más opciones. Un extraño e inquietante personaje aparece en su aislada cabaña.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
August 12, 2013
This short story has several good qualities going for it. The main character is sympathetic and very well fleshed-out for such a brief tale. The writing is concentrated on making you "sense" every moment of Kid's existence that is described. Description could well be said to be the soul of this story.
I wish I could say plotting was the heart, but I failed to note that there was a heart to the narrative. Maybe the old saying, "actions speak louder than words," is the message/heart here. Maybe it's that even the desperate and choiceless are never really left without some other recourse. I don't know.
The writing is viscerally compact and alarming, which works great for many fans of the horror genre, including me. It's why I'm giving this three stars. Minus two stars because it isn't something that will haunt me or stick in my head for long. I think with a little more life (to eviscerate later) would have made all the difference here.
I wish I could say plotting was the heart, but I failed to note that there was a heart to the narrative. Maybe the old saying, "actions speak louder than words," is the message/heart here. Maybe it's that even the desperate and choiceless are never really left without some other recourse. I don't know.
The writing is viscerally compact and alarming, which works great for many fans of the horror genre, including me. It's why I'm giving this three stars. Minus two stars because it isn't something that will haunt me or stick in my head for long. I think with a little more life (to eviscerate later) would have made all the difference here.
August 18, 2011
Remember Steve Emmett’s “Diavolino”? You know, the one that makes Stephen King’s most horrifying fiction seem like fairy stories; the one that, if you’re fortunate enough to be in Italy, makes you check out your surroundings twice.
If you thought that was a masterpiece of horror, take a look at his “Kid”. This may be a short story but Steve has condensed as much into it as most authors would in a complete novel. He excels at concise, no-holds-barred prose and this is horror in its rawest form. If you love to be terrified, then this is a page turner that will have you panting for more. It had my eyes out on stalks, and I’m not squeamish. A keeper.
If you thought that was a masterpiece of horror, take a look at his “Kid”. This may be a short story but Steve has condensed as much into it as most authors would in a complete novel. He excels at concise, no-holds-barred prose and this is horror in its rawest form. If you love to be terrified, then this is a page turner that will have you panting for more. It had my eyes out on stalks, and I’m not squeamish. A keeper.
September 21, 2012
I swear I spent more time thinking about this book than reading it. At only 12 pages long, you might not think that an author can cram in scenes so vivid that every sense comes alive. It's creepy and disturbing. I think the choice Kid made was 100% the wrong choice. The ending isn't well-defined but I'm left with the feeling that the results of this gift aren't going to make Kid's life any better. Definitely a 5 star short story.
August 20, 2011
'Kid' is a short story but is certainly not a small story. In just a few pages, Steve Emmett packs a full and horrifying story guaranteed to conjure up terrifying images. Not one for the fainthearted. Be prepared to be chilled - and thoroughly entertained.
December 19, 2013
Very vivid and fleshed out story for being only 12 pages long. Kid's tale is also highly detailed, really making you feel for and with him. Effectively condensed horror. I think I'll have to check out Steve Emmett's other works!
October 5, 2011
This has to be one of the best value reads on Kindle. A chilling tale masterfully written. How about a collection of short stories, Mr Emmett?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews